Ever wondered who the best Ruby on Rails developer in New Orleans is? What about who solves all technological problems neatly and efficiently? Word on the street (and on AngelList) is it’s Matt Culpepper, CTO, tech Cofounder, and one of the driving forces behind Connect for a Cause.
Echoing others, one coworker said, “Matt is my absolute go to guy for development advice. He takes the time to explain not only how, but why to do things the way he suggests. He constantly proves to those that work with him that he is the best Ruby on Rails developer in the New Orleans area.”
Matt has recently taken the startup plunge, previously working at older companies such as iSeatz, which was founded in 1999. As far as we know, he is in for a treat. Connect for Cause is launching a brand new website soon and has already seen success after its previous launch.
Read on to learn a bit more about Matt and what it’s like living the startup life.
One word: why?
I was looking for a position where I had a little more say in the product being created. I loved the product that Jason was working on and he was looking for someone like me to help make his idea a reality.
What were you doing before joining Connect for a Cause?
I had been working at iSeatz in several different leadership capacities.
Do you think you embody the entrepreneurial spirit?
I’m certainly not as outgoing as Jason, but I think we both share a similar passion for what we do. I don’t really consider it “work” when I’m up at 2am figuring something out.
You’ve been called one of the best Rails developer in the city, what is your response to that?
There’s no “best Rails developer” metric, but to hear that from my peers certainly affirms the work that I’ve put in over the past few years to get where I’m at today.
What’s the most inspiring part about working for a startup? The hardest part?
It’s the same thing. I’m currently the only one who tests, writes, deploys our code. That makes it the hardest part and I’m motivated by challenges.
How many hours per day do you typically work?
One of the best things about working for Jason is that I can set my own schedule. On a typical day, I usually wake up and spend time with my fiancée and kids, then work for a few hours, then back to family time, then back to work late at night. Usually 8-12 hours a day.
How has it been working with Jason?
Jason has a lot of natural energy. He’s very outgoing. I think our personalities complement each other pretty well. It’s been great.
How did you meet?
I believe we had talked a couple times on Twitter, then a friend of mine recommended me to him.
Will the company be a success?
Yes. Unless something happens outside of our control.
Where do you see it in 6 months?
In 6 months we will have launched our new site. I believe if we get the traction we are expecting, we will be making enough to pay the bills, which would be a huge accomplishment.
How much backing do you have?
You’d have to ask Jason.
Who are your competitors?
There are a few who aren’t in our exact market, like Clarity.fm and Charitybuzz.